UConn on a roll, beats Rutgers 28-17

Chris Elsberry

Published 5:44 pm, Saturday, November 30, 2013

Connecticut head coach T.J. Weist reacts during the first half an NCAA college football game against Rutgers in East Hartford, Conn., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2013.
Photo: Fred Beckham, AP

Connecticut head coach T.J. Weist reacts during the first half an...

Connecticut running back Max DeLorenzo (44) runs for a touchdown while being pursued by Rutgers defensive lineman Darius Hamilton (91 left, during the first half an NCAA college football game in East Hartford, Conn., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2013. (AP Photo/Fred Beckham)
Photo: Fred Beckham, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Connecticut running back Max DeLorenzo (44) runs for a touchdown...

Rutgers wide receiver Ruhann Peele (80) attempts to tackle Connecticut wide receiver Geremy Davis (85) during the first half an NCAA college football game in East Hartford, Conn., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2013. Davis scored a touchdown on the play.
Photo: Fred Beckham, AP

Rutgers wide receiver Ruhann Peele (80) attempts to tackle...

Rutgers wide receiver Ruhann Peele (80) tries to evade Connecticut safety Andrew Adams (22) during the first half an NCAA college football game in East Hartford, Conn., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2013.
Photo: Fred Beckham, AP

EAST HARTFORD -- Forget the losing streak, the Huskies are on a winning streak.

From nine straight losses to two straight wins, UConn has suddenly found its swagger and, better yet, looks like it's found a quarterback and a leader in the process. With Casey Cochran throwing for 311 yards and two touchdowns, the Huskies won their second straight game and their first at home, beating Rutgers 28-17 before 22,163 Saturday -- the smallest crowd in the history of Rentschler Field.

"It was a great team win," interim head coach T.J. Weist said. "Our team really showed determination and pride and we took the momentum from the second half (at Temple) last week. We really put it together for most of the game."

Cochran -- the redshirt freshman from Monroe who played for New London and Masuk in high school, setting several state records in the process -- was calm, cool and collected in his third start since replacing Tim Boyle. Cochran was 25-of-33 passing, threading several throws to a variety of receivers, including junior Deshon Foxx, who caught a career-high nine passes for 117 yards.

"I give all the credit to Casey because he got me the ball," Foxx said. "And to the other receivers because they blocked for me and gave me the room to make plays.

"(Casey's) just making smart decisions. He's putting the ball on the money and we're just rolling with it."

Along with Foxx, Geremy Davis caught five balls for 98 yards, Brian Lemelle caught five for 28 yards and Dhameer Bradley had three catches for 41 yards as the receiving group put together perhaps its best overall game of the season.

"I'm not even shocked," Davis said. "I see their talent all the time. I knew their time was going to come. They did a great job blocking and they took advantage of all their opportunities.

"I'm proud of all those guys. Even Kamal Abrams, when he came in, he provided a great block to free Deshon down the sidelines. They all did a great job."

But most of the credit for the win has to go to Cochran, who posted his first 300-yard game and stayed focused in the pocket despite occasional pressure to make big throw after big throw. On the drive that gave UConn the lead early in the fourth quarter, Cochran completed passes of six and 40 yards to Foxx and 18 yards to Davis as UConn went ahead 21-17. And he also completed passes of 19 yards to Bradley, 13 yards to Foxx , 17 yards to Max DeLorenzo and 3 yards to Lemelle for a clinching touchdown with 3:11 to play.

"It felt different. It's so different when my first snap was at Buffalo," Cochran said. "Everything has slowed down. All the preparation over the past few weeks and last few years has paid off. If you prepare, it's going to help you in the long run and it really did today. Everything just clicked, especially for the offense."

Cochran's 311 yards passing makes him the third UConn quarterback this season to throw for 300 or more. Chandler Whitmer threw for 349 against Maryland and Boyle threw for 310 versus Cincinnati, both losses. It couldn't be confirmed whether it's a collegiate record.

Rutgers took a 7-0 lead thanks to a trick play on a fake field goal attempt five minutes into the game. Holder J.T. Tratacoff took the snap and threw to tight end Tyler Kroft, who shrugged off safety Obi Melifonwu to make the catch. But the Huskies tied the game at 7-7 as Cochran and Bradley hooked up for an 18-yard TD pass, capping a 79-yard drive, and then took the lead at 14-7 as DeLorenzo powered into the end zone from 12 yards out. A 34-yard field goal from Kyle Federico with 41 seconds left before halftime cut the Huskies' lead to 14-10.

It was just the second time this season when the Huskies led at the half -- they were ahead of Michigan 14-7.

Justin Goodwin's 3-yard TD run, coming one play after Chas Dodd and Quron Pratt connected for an 84-yard completion -- the 59th play this season of over 20 yards that the Huskies have allowed -- gave Rutgers a 17-14 lead, but Cochran rallied the troops.

"In the third and fourth quarters, we really came together and showed leadership on both sides of the football," Weist said. "We put all three phases together. We missed some plays here and there but we made plays at the critical times."